A17698:1447
Sermons upon Deuteronomy
The sermons of M. John Calvin upon the fifth book of Moses called Deuteronomy faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpit; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneva, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chief matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alleged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.The sermons of M. Iohn Caluin vpon the fifth booke of Moses called Deuteronomie faithfully gathered word for word as he preached them in open pulpet; together with a preface of the ministers of the Church of Geneua, and an admonishment made by the deacons there. Also there are annexed two profitable tables, the one containing the chiefe matters; the other the places of Scripture herein alledged. Translated out of French by Arthur Golding.
London: printed by Henry Middleton for George Bishop, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
but that therein God uttereth his goodness towards us, and sheddeth it into us, as we see the rain come from heaven which moisteneth the earth and giveth it strength: On the other side if we have want: let us understand that God can sustain us by turning bread into Manna, that is to say: if all ordinary means fail us, God will provide for us after another fashion, as we see he remedied the necessity of his people, when they were in the wilderness.1 And for the same cause did our Lord Jesus Christ answer Satan, it is written that man liveth not by bread only, but by every word that cometh out of the mouth of God. For Satan tempted him to distrust, under colour that in the wilderness God sent him not the things that were expedient to live withal. He had not any food there, and yet in the mean while he was pinched, with hunger as a mortal man: for he vouchsafed to become subject to our passions or sufferings. Now here upon, Satan taketh occasion to enter upon him, saying: Seeing thou art the son of God, shouldest thou want any thing? Is it not reason that all creatures should serve thee? yes: for thou art the heir of the world. Thou hast no bread: and therefore thou must be fain to try the power of God, that these stones may be turned into bread, or else thou seest how thy God forsaketh thee, for if he had a care of thee, thou shouldest perceive his blessing and favour, so as thou shouldest have here wherewith to sustain thee. Now then seeing thou wantest such helps, it is a sign that God hath no regard of thee. But Jesus Christ answereth hereunto: I shall be sustained well enough though bread fail me. And why? For the life of man dependeth not upon these means. And surely God were of very small and weak force, if he could not help a man but by bread: he should be no better than an earthly man. A rich man can do well enough, if he have wherewith: but if he fall into poverty, he must be fain to beg
but that therein God vttereth his goodnesse towardes vs, and sheadeth it into vs, as we see the raine come from heauen which moisteneth ye earth and giueth it strength: On the other side if wee haue want: let vs vnderstand that God can sustaine vs by turning bread into Manna, that is to say: if all ordinarie meanes fayle vs, God will prouide for vs after another fashion, as wee see hee remedied the necessitie of his people, when they were in the wildernes.1